Can Amblyopia Be Corrected in Adults?

Many people think of amblyopia as a children’s eye condition, and while many cases develop in children, we help plenty of adults who struggle with lazy eyes too. The effects of amblyopia can affect academics, sports, work, and confidence, but recently, adults affected by amblyopia are finding successful treatment in vision therapy.

Our skilled eye doctors at Specialty Eye can help both children and adults with amblyopia by providing vision therapy that uses supervised exercises and techniques to improve vision and eye health.

What Is Amblyopia?

Amblyopia, commonly referred to as lazy eye, is an ocular condition where the vision in one eye is weaker than the other. When the brain and the eye don’t work together as they should, and one eye doesn’t receive adequate stimulation, the weaker eye can develop vision loss. An even more significant strength difference between the unaffected and lazy eye can emerge as the brain learns to rely on the eye that sees clearly.

Lazy eye can first develop in childhood, and it’s estimated that up to 6% of children develop amblyopia. When amblyopia is caught during childhood, early vision therapy and other treatments can help restore the eyes’ balance. Treatment in adulthood can look a little different, but our experienced team at Specialty Eye can still help strengthen the weaker eye with individualized vision therapy.
 

What Causes Amblyopia?

Many of the patients we see who are affected by lazy eye experience a dysfunction in their neural pathways, and while the condition can have a genetic component, other conditions can lead to amblyopia too, including:

  • Refractive errors, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism

  • Strabismus (crossed eyes)

  • Injury or trauma to one eye

  • Different levels of vision in each eye

  • Cataracts
     

Is It Ever Too Late to Treat Amblyopia?

Not long ago, experts believed amblyopia could only be effectively treated in children and that those under the age of 7 would be most successful. Only recently have studies indicated that amblyopia can be corrected in adults with the proper therapy.

While early detection and intervention are beneficial, specialized vision therapy designed for every pair of eyes can benefit both children and adults. After a diagnosis for amblyopia, seeking vision therapy is essential. Untreated, lazy eye can lead to temporary or permanent depth perception challenges and vision loss.

At Specialty Eye, we can provide a personalized plan to help support visual health and reduce the effects of amblyopia. Our eye doctors are experienced with helping patients of all ages overcome amblyopia and improve their overall eye health.

Vision Therapy for Amblyopia

Our specially trained eye doctors can create a customized vision therapy treatment plan for amblyopia patients. We work with The Mind’s Eye Center’s team of experts and utilize modern research to develop treatment programs personalized to your unique needs. With advanced, effective methods and innovative techniques, we can help patients of all ages see positive outcomes from vision therapy.
 

How Does Vision Therapy Work?

At the heart of vision therapy, our doctors use techniques and exercises to improve brain plasticity, help the brain forge new neural connections, and rewire the link between your mind and eyes with the goal of restoring balance to your vision. 

Vision therapy can help improve:

  • Visual attention and perception

  • Hand-eye coordination

  • Eye focusing

  • Eye alignment

  • Eye movements and tracking

  • Eye teaming

  • Depth perception and 3D vision problems
     

Under the supervision and coaching of trained vision therapists, studies have shown vision therapy can improve the vision and eye health of those affected by amblyopia.

Vision therapy at Specialty Eye can exercise an array of skills to improve communication and coordination between the eyes and the brain. Led by our knowledgeable doctors, vision therapy can help you see improvement in your vision.

Treat Amblyopia with Vision Therapy at Specialty Eye

At Specialty Eye, we understand the importance of treating amblyopia in children and adults. We use a range of methods and techniques, including personalized vision therapy and other non-invasive treatments, to help our patients improve their vision and overall eye health.

Our doctors are experts in amblyopia, strabismus, pediatric optometry, myopia control, dry eye, specialty contact lenses, and refractive error correction, making us well-suited to treat patients of all ages with a range of vision issues.

If you’re an adult struggling with amblyopia, you still have a chance to benefit from treatment. Our dedicated team of doctors will work with you to develop a treatment plan and use our expertise to guide you through your program every step of the way.

Contact us to schedule a consultation and take the first step on your path to clear vision and healthy eyes.